Trump directs federal government to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-08-27 13:53:00 — www.npr.org
Trump Orders Lake Ontario Renamed “Lake America” Amid Escalating Trade Dispute with Canada
President Trump has intensified his ongoing trade conflict with Canada by signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario, which straddles the border between New York and Canada, as “Lake America.” At a signing event in the Oval Office, Trump declared, “We have a gulf, and we have a lake, now all we need is an ocean.” The order, signed Thursday, directs the federal government to implement the name change “effective immediately,” though it also requires certain administrative steps before it can take effect.
Trump attributed the move directly to frustrations with Canada, stating, “We deal with a lot of people, and people oftentimes they’ll ask me, ‘Who’s the worst to deal with on trade?’ And I said, ‘That’s easy, Canada. They are the worst to trade, and they they feel entitled, and just we can’t have that.’” This statement marks a clear escalation in rhetoric and follows a similar executive action last year, when Trump attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
The executive order comes on the heels of failed trade negotiations, after which Trump announced a 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods. This decision has sparked a trade war with one of the United States’ closest allies, prompting Canada to issue retaliatory tariffs. The excerpt notes that these tariffs are “almost certain to raise the cost of goods for Americans,” who are already facing high prices due to ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump’s actions and statements have drawn criticism from within his own party. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is facing a competitive reelection campaign, recently called the tariffs on Canada a “mistake.” This internal dissent highlights the growing unease among some Republicans over the administration’s approach to trade policy and international relations.
False Claims and Disparagements
Trump’s claim that Canada is “the worst to trade” and “feel entitled” continues his pattern of making sweeping, disparaging statements about U.S. allies, often without substantiating evidence. The assertion that renaming a major international body of water is a necessary response to trade frustrations is both unprecedented and widely seen as a symbolic gesture rather than a substantive policy solution.
Conclusion
President Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” and his imposition of steep tariffs on Canadian goods represent a significant escalation in his trade dispute with Canada. His statements blaming Canada for trade difficulties and justifying dramatic actions with broad, negative characterizations of America’s neighbor further strain diplomatic relations. As costs rise for American consumers and political backlash grows, the long-term impact of these moves remains to be seen.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/27/g-s1-140583/trump-lake-ontario-america